Impact of As-Prepared and Purifıed Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubeson the Liquid-Phase Aerobic Oxidatıon of Hydrocarbons

The article presents simple kinetic approaches to study the effect of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) additives on the aerobic oxidation of hydrocarbons and to propose real acceptable mechanisms of the process. The aerobic liquid phase low-temperature oxidation of ethylbenzene conducted in the presence of multi-walled carbon nanotubes has been used as a model pattern. Kinetic analysis established the catalytic action associated with the presence of the iron compounds in inner channels of MWCNTs. These compounds are identified as ferric carbides provoking decomposition of the ethylbenzene hydroperoxide and thereby suppressing the competitive route of alky-peroxide radicals addition to the nanocarbon cage. Thus the reaction finally proceeds in the autocatalytic mode.Contradictory conclusions on the effect of CNTs on the oxidation chain processes existing in the literature are associated with the lack of control over nature and content of metal impurities in channels of nanotubes.